Gulf of Aden Security Review
A regularly updated review of both Yemen and the Horn of Africa covering topics related to security, governance, and militant activity.
Yemen: President Hadi meets with U.S. Ambassador to Yemen; al Houthi forces clash with Hajoor tribe in Hajjah governorate
Horn of Africa: Al Shabaab attacks Sanguni military base; U.S.-backed SNA forces conduct operation against al Shabaab in Lower Shabelle region; protesters demonstrate against Somali oil conference in London; former Somali region president pleads not guilty
Yemen Security Brief
President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi met with U.S. Ambassador to Yemen Matthew Tueller to reaffirm U.S. support for the Yemen peace process on February 7.[1]
Al Houthi forces and Hajoori tribal forces continued to clash in Kushar district in governorate in northwestern Yemen on February 7. A spokesman for the tribe claimed that the group has killed over 75 al Houthi fighters and wounded over 150 others after two weeks of fighting. Official al Houthi media has yet to comment on the clashes.[2]
Horn of Africa Security Brief
Al Shabaab militants attacked Somali National Army (SNA) and Jubbaland security forces at Sanguni military base in region, southern Somalia on February 6. The attack killed six soldiers.[3]
U.S.-backed SNA forces conducted a joint ground and air offensive against al Shabaab near in Lower Shabelle region, south of Somalia’s capital Mogadishu, on February 7. SNA and U.S. forces killed ten militants and destroyed a weapons cache, according to Somali news sources. U.S. Africa Command has not confirmed the operation.[4]
Anti-government protesters demonstrated outside a conference to discuss oil contracts for Somalia in London on February 7. The Somali Senate’s national resource committee deemed the sale of Somali oil contracts unconstitutional because parliament has not yet approved the necessary petroleum regulations.[5]
Former Ethiopian Somali region president Abdi Iley pled not guilty to charges of instigating ethnic violence in eastern Ethiopia on February 6. Iley is among 47 government officials charged with inciting violence between ethnic Somalis and non-Somalis in August 2018.[6]
[1] “The President of the Republic receives the Ambassador of the United States of America to Yemen,” Official Website of the Republic of Yemen, February 7, 2019, https://presidenthadi-gov-ye.info/ar/archives/%D8%B1%D8%A6%D9%8A%D8%B3-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D9%85%D9%87%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%8A%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%A8%D9%84-%D8%B3%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%88%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7-8/.
[2] “After violent battles Hajoor tribes controlling al Houthi camp,” 7adramout, February 7, 2019, https://www.7adramout.net/hadramout21/2238458/%D8%A7%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%85%D9%86---%D8%A8%D8%B9%D8%AF-%D9%85%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%83-%D8%B9%D9%86%D9%8A%D9%81%D8%A9-%D9%82%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%84-%D8%AD%D8%AC%D9%88%D8%B1-%D8%AA%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%B7%D8%B1-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D9%85%D8%B9%D8%B3%D9%83%D8%B1-%D8%AD%D9%88%D8%AB%D9%8A.html.
[3] “Deadly rockets hit army base in Somalia,” Mareeg, February 6, 2019, https://mareeg.com/deadly-rockets-hit-army-base-in-somalia/.
[4] “US military launches air, ground offensive against al Shabaab,” Mareeg, February 7, 2019, https://mareeg.com/us-military-launches-air-ground-offensive-against-al-shabaab/.
[5] “Senate declares London summit on Somalia Oil ‘unconstitutional,’” Garowe Online, February 7, 2019, https://www.garoweonline.com/en/news/somalia/senate-declares-london-summit-on-somalia-oil-unconstitutional.
[6] “Ethiopia ex-official pleads not guilty to fomenting ethnic violence,” Horseed Media, February 7, 2019, https://horseedmedia.net/2019/02/07/somalia-ethiopia-ex-official-pleads-not-guilty-to-fomenting-ethnic-violence/.
